The largest event in the Caspian region in the construction field – the 20th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Construction Exhibition, BakuBuild 2014 opened its doors on 22 October. For two decades, the exhibition has become a benchmark in the construction market for Azerbaijani and foreign manufacturers, the starting point for many of today's industry leaders. For 20 years, the exhibition hosted more than 3,200 companies from 35 countries and more than a hundred thousand visitors, acquiring the status of an effective business platform where contracts are concluded and trends of the market for construction services emerge. The 6th International Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, Water Supply, Sanitary, Environmental Technology, Swimming Pools and Renewable Energy Exhibition, Aqua-Therm Baku 2014 and the 7th Caspian International Protection, Security and Rescue Exhibition, CIPS Caspian 2014 are held in parallel with BakuBuild.

The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by:

Mr. Elkhan Asadov, Deputy Head of the State Agency for Construction Safety Control under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Azerbaijan Republic

Mr. Jahangir Gojayev, Head of the International Relations and Information Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning

Mr. Giampaolo Cutillio, Italian Ambassador to Azerbaijan,

Ms. Aurora Tarruella, Trade Attaché of the Spanish Embassy in Turkey,

Mr. Sami Al-Hashemi, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Exports Company of Government of Dubai (UAE)

Mr. Edward Strachan, ITE Group Plc

The speakers emphasized the grand development of all branches of modern construction in Azerbaijan and noted the important role of BakuBuild, Aqua-Therm Baku and CIPS Caspian exhibitions to reflect the country's economic success. In his speech, Mr E. Strachan said: "One of the pleasant fact of exhibitions held over these years is the growth of number of local participants. At the same time, we also observe the annual growth of foreign exhibitors." In conclusion, Mr. Strachan thanked everyone, including supporting structures, partners and sponsors for their active participation and support of exhibitions during all these years.

On the first day of the exhibition it was attended by Shahin Mustafayev, Minister of Economy and Industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Mr. Mustafayev acquainted with the exposition, paying special attention to local producers.

The exhibition celebrates its anniversary with record-breaking results: 490 companies from 29 countries deployed their expositions, occupying all the pavilions of Baku Expo Centre, including the lobby and open area. The hallmark of BakuBuild is participation at once of seven national teams from Germany, Hungary, Italy, Iran, Spain, UAE, and Portugal. The expositions occupy all the pavilions of Baku Expo Centre, including open area, as well as the lobby. The debutants who have chosen BakuBuild as a launching platform to promote their products to the market in the Caspian region, account for 40% of the total number of participants.

The main emphasis of the exhibition is made on exclusivity and innovation. Among the novelties of this year's exhibition there are the unique samples of plumbing products, new samples of moulded plastic pipes and fittings, tiles, multifunctional glazing, roofing and waterproofing materials, cables, dry mixes, LED lamps, channels, portable compressors of new design, new types of cement, porous concrete blocks, coatings, flap polishing wheels of the new generation, different types of boards, insulation systems, seamless pipes, modern thermal and sound insulation materials, a wide range of finishing materials, metal structures, wooden house construction technologies and more.

The best projects, ideas, developments in the areas of production of construction machinery, construction materials, architecture, design and so forth are demonstrated at the stands. The companies producing high-quality building materials, floor and roof coverings that meet international quality standards present their novelties. The section of construction machines, which is located on the outside area of the Baku Expo Centre enjoys special attention. The external exposition looks like a huge construction site, and the latest technologies of Amcador, Iveco, JCB, Hitachi, Hyundai, Manitou, Volvo, Caterpillar, Hidromek, etc are presented here.

The exhibition is supported by the Ministry of Economic Development of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Committee for Architecture and Urban Planning of Azerbaijan Republic, the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs’ (Employers) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO).

The organizers of the exhibition are Iteca Caspian LLC and its partner - the British ITE Group Plc. The success of the exhibition is the result of teamwork, the entire network of partners of ITE Group plc, which attract international companies to participate in the Azerbaijani exhibition. Among them, there are such companies as the ITE London, EUF (Turkey), GIMA (Germany), ITE Gulf (UAE), International Show srl. (Italy), ITE China (China), and ITE Poland (Poland).

The first day of the exhibition was very intense. The talks were conducted and the workshops were held at the stands. As per the number of visitors the increase is observed as compared with the first day of last year's exhibition. The exhibition will close on the 26th October.